Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government will “restore order” to the asylum system, introducing temporary refugee status and removing the duty to provide financial support.
Ministers have also pledged to phase out the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, though finding suitable alternatives remains challenging.
The move has prompted concern among local families and council officials. Highland Council highlighted that Cameron Barracks, where the asylum seekers will stay, is not council-owned and raised questions over community cohesion.
The controversial plan has been criticised by Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, who said proper engagement is essential to ensure a “coherent approach” to asylum accommodation.
The barracks will provide self-contained facilities including accommodation, catering, and on-site support. The asylum seekers will be non-detained and free to come and go, but the government emphasised that asylum claims will not be processed on-site.
Local leaders also warned the move could face delays due to necessary refurbishments, including boiler replacements, asbestos removal, and deep cleaning.
The plan forms part of a wider government strategy to end reliance on hotels for asylum seekers, which ministers say has been expensive and inefficient. Some experts have raised concerns about the logistics and cost of using military sites for this purpose.
